Robbing scroats

[Arpa]

Cycling home from work the other night from the City to East London, I was pushed off my bike by a member of the hooded 'youth' scum. By the time I'd regained balance and righted myself, I was cornered by three of them.

Like anyone would, I confronted the gang which was not the best idea! I fortunately managed to escape with nothing more than a bruised eye and without loss of my bike or valuables!

Just wanted to give you guys my word of advice which, although against instinct, keep riding!

(p.s. I've gleaned some much valuable advice from PH over the years, I thought it about time I contribute back - cheers.)

Edited by Arpa on Friday 27th November 17:18

[Gooby]

Holey crap! Glad you are ok! Have the police shown any interest?

[Lost_BMW]

Arpa said:

Cycling home from work the other night from the City to East London, I was pushed off my bike by a member of the hooded 'youth' scum. By the time I'd regained balance and righted myself, I was cornered by three of them.

Like anyone would, I confronted the gang which was not the best idea! I fortunately managed to escape with nothing more than a bruised eye and without loss of my bike or valuables!

Just wanted to give you guys my word of advice which, although against instinct, keep riding!

(p.s. I've gleaned some much valuable advice from PH over the years, I thought it about time I contribute back - cheers.)

Edited by Arpa on Friday 27th November 17:18

Do you mean keep riding after an attack, or keep riding in places like that?

I'd be really cautious (with either) as not only do you never know what these vermin have up their sleeves - or back pocket! - but being hit off of a bike can be bad news. I was knocked off mine by a car (didn't stop) but luckily fell into a soft grass verge/drainage ditch. If it had been a street god knows what would have happened, even with a helmet on head injury is so likely.

I can remember a few years back when some scum knocked a guy off his bike near here, in Nottingham - can't be sure if he died or was badly, badly hurt just from the fall but seem to remember it being a murder hunt . .

If you don't want to stop cycling or feel they shouldn't be allowed to stop you and you don't want to contemplate giving up the bike, money etc. then maybe a course in something like Krav Maga or combat karate might be a wise investment?

But, overall feel very bad for you - hope you get over it soon.

[Arpa]

The BiB were round to mine within 30mins to take a statement which I thought was pretty good. Waiting to hear back from them as there is a CCTV camera which may have caught some of the incident.

Concerning the 'keep going', definitely carry on with the journey if you're still upright enough. It seems natural to confront the situation but when straddling a bike or trying to protect it from being stolen, you soon realise how vulnerable you have become.

I am not letting fear get the better of me (the wind and rain may, but that's a different story!) but a course in Krav Maga is a great idea!

[Gooby]

Arpa said:

a course in Krav Maga is a great idea!

It is a great idea but not for use in this situation. Studied various martial arts over 12 years and I am reasonably "proficient". You fight at a very last resort. If you can avoid a fight by giving up an insured bike then do so. All one of them has to do is pull a knife and you are a statistic. If you are lucky, they will kill you, if you are unlucky, your wife will spend the rest of her days pushing your wheel chair.

[Lost_BMW]

Gooby said:

Arpa said:

a course in Krav Maga is a great idea!

It is a great idea but not for use in this situation. Studied various martial arts over 12 years and I am reasonably "proficient". You fight at a very last resort. If you can avoid a fight by giving up an insured bike then do so. All one of them has to do is pull a knife and you are a statistic. If you are lucky, they will kill you, if you are unlucky, your wife will spend the rest of her days pushing your wheel chair.

As a fellow 'artist' (but never have done more than read up on KM) I'd agree that giving up a piece of metal or whatever is the default position as like I'd said you never know what they have and are prepared to use. Bruce Lee and his bike V 3 o4 4 scum with knives, guns et cetera? Bruce, give up the bike.

Raised it in passing though as a, potentially worthwhile, possibility just in case it's one of those all too familiar situations where giving up the goods doesn't placate their need for power/violence. In that case some grounding in a 'fighting art', particularly in a form that is based more on real life might reduce the risk of the kicking.

I don't actually know much about Krav Maga but it sounds like it might be helpful in awareness, avoidance or using all natural advantages against the attackers - if all else fails. having started with Wado Ryu the form of hybridised 'karate' (for want of a better, more accurate term) I moved to training in does emphasise that avoidance at most costs is the thing to do. But then, if flight or placating them is no good all bets are off and it's about using everything available, any part of the body etc. to stop or deter them before potentially dying.

Not pretty or artistic with eye gouging, finger pokes, lip or ear tearing, groin strikes, neck strikes etc. all being practised and advocated but probably quicker and more likely to lead to escape than trying the standard 'fist-i-cuffs', especially with multiple opponents?